Davit and platform for boats



Jame 20, 196'] R. B. JOHNS DAVIT AND PLATFORM FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1965 IN VEN TOR. H6. 2 men/mo B. JOHNS June 2, 1967 R. B. JOHNS DAVIT AND PLATFORM FOR BOATS Filed Feb. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VENTOR. RICHARD B. JOHNS United States Patent Filed Feb. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 435,250 6 Claims. (Cl. 11443.5)

This invention relates in general to a davit apparatus for boats and in more particularity to a combination davit and platform.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a davit apparatus which may be used in hoisting and launching a small boat, such as a dinghy, from a larger boat with the davit providing storage for the small boat and also providing a working or boarding platform when the davit is in its lowered or launching position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a davit apparatus which may be used to hold the smaller boat in a wide variety of locations and positions in relation to the larger boat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a platform as an integral part of the davit apparatus with the platform serving as a boarding means between the smaller and the larger boats and with the platform adaptable to be used as a convenience for fishing, swimming, etc., when not used in conjunction with the smaller boat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platform which provides a greater degree of safety in boarding either the smaller or the larger boat. By providing a platform above but near the waterline this eliminates the need for a person to have to jump from the larger boat into the smaller one or to have to board the larger boat by climbing up the transom of the boat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a davit apparatus which furnishes storing means for the smaller boat at a location above and away from the deck of the larger boat thereby providing more space on the larger boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a davit and platform apparatus which is easily installed on existing boats and need not be custom made for a particular boat. An apparatus according to my invention may be mass produced to accommodate a wide number of sizes and shapes of boats with little or no change in the basic construction of the larger boat or the davit.

A further object is to provide a davit and platform means which is simple in construction, light in Weight, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and easy to maintain.

Throughout the specification and in the drawings the invention is shown and described as applied to the stern of a boat, however, it is not limited to this use but may well be used on the side of a boat, on a sea wall, or any similar place where it is desired that a small boat be raised, stored, and launched.

Further objects, advantages, and capabilities of the invention will be more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a small boat attached to the stern of a large boat by means according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the boats in the same relationship as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view 'of the davit in the first stage of the raising operation;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the davit and small boat in its raised or stored position;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the smaller boat in an alternative stored position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a dinghy 6 is shown attached to the stem 7 of a larger boat 8.

3,326,16 I Patented June 20, 1967 Stem 7 is provided with two substantially C-shaped track members 9 and 10 with the open side of the C facing the stern 7 and the members 9 and 10 fastened thereto at each of the top and bottom ends thereof.

Frame 11 of the davit apparatus has a member 12 which passes through and is loosely held by each of members 9 and 10. Member 12 is shown as a member curved outwardly from the stern 7 of the boat 8 so as to accommodate different stern curvatures.

Frame 11 also has a cross member 13 running between the two end of frame member 12 in order to provide support means for platform 14. Platform 14 is further supported on each end by members 15 extending between members 12 and 13. Thus it can be seen that with the frame member 12 and 13 on the sides and frame members 15 on each end, platform 14 is a rigid structure which can support the weight of an individual or several individuals.

Member 12 extends outwardly from each juncture with cross member 13 and connects at each end with cross member 16 which is substantially parallel with member 13. This cross member 16 is used for support of the dinghy 6.

The dinghy 6 is provided with a hook member 17 near each end thereof and is fastened to frame member 16 by means of lines 18 fastened through hook 17 and looped over or fastened to the member 16.

Operating means for the davit are shown for illustrative purposes as a hand winch 19 with lines 20 and 21 controlled thereby. Line 20 extends transversely of the boat 8, passes through a suitable opening therein, and is attached to frame 12 by means of hook or fastener 22.

Line 21 extends in a direction opposite to that of line 20 and passes through a suitable opening in stern 7 to be attached to frame 12 by means of fastener 23.

A second control line 24 is attached to cleat 25 and is attached to each end of frame 12 by means of hooks or fasteners 26.

Operation of my invention is as follows: with the smaller boat or dinghy in the lowered position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, platform 14 is in position to provide means for boarding" the larger boat from the smaller one, or vice versa, and also to provide a .deck near the surface of the water from which to fish, dive, etc.

When it is desired tohoist dinghy 6 out of the Water, line 24 is removed from cleat 25 and pulled upwardly. This raises frame 12 upwardly behind track or guide members 9 and 10 until it reaches its uppermost position as shown in FIGURE 3. Line 24 is then secured to cleat 25 again.

Winch 19 is operated to wind lines 20 and 21 thereon. In so doing, they, by means of hooks 22 and 23, hit frame 12 upwardly through an arcuate path with the frame pivoting about the point at which frame 12 is held by members 9 and 10. The dotted line position of FIGURE 4 shows one of the several positions through which the frame and dinghy travel. When frame 12 is in a vertical position, lines 20 and 21 are secured and the dinghy 6 is suspended above the'transom free of the deck or sides of boat 8. p

To launch the small boat 6, lines 20 and 21 are released, winch 19 is used to feed out lines 20 and 21 and the reverse movements of the various members lowers the boat back through the dotted line position of FIGURE 4 to the position of FIGURE 3.

Line 24 is released from cleat 25 and frame 12 travels downwardly behind tracks 9 and 10 until it rests in the bottom-most position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Platform 14 may be used for boarding dinghy 6 and once the dinghy is removed from cross member 16 for use elsewhere the platform 14 remains in position for use in water sports, etc.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative position for carrying dinghy 6. Lines 18 and hooks 17 are used to attach the dinghy to cross member 13 instead of to cross member 16 as shown in the previous figures. With the dinghy attached here, the platform 14 extends over a portion of the top of the dinghy and provides easier access into and out of the dinghy.

To raise the dinghy to the position of FIGURE 5, line 24 is left undisturbed which means that frame 12 Will pivot about its bottom-most position. When winch 19 is operated, lines 20 and 21 will raise frame 12 upwardly and dinghy 6, due tothe frame 12 and 13, will rotate until it is on its side as shown in this figure. It may he carried in this position which also provides more space on the deck of the boat 8.

Thus it will be seen thaat I have provided a utilitarian combination of a davit and a paltform which is versatile in that it may be used in any one of several different ways according to the desires of the boat owner.

Although only one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it is understood that it is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but on the contrary, is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof, and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use, and still be within the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination davit and platform for boats compris- (a) a frame member,

(b) a vertical track member,

(c) said frame member held in a pivotal and slidable relationship by said track member,

((1) a bar member on the opposite side of said frame for attaching a boat,

(e) a platform within said frame between the bar member and said vertical track member.

2. A combination davit and platform for boats comprising (a) a frame member,

(b) a vertical track member mounted on a vertical surface,

(0) said frame member held in a pivotal and slidable relationship by said track member,

(cl) a bar member on the opposite side of said frame for attaching a boat thereto,

(e) means for moving said frame along said vertical track member,

(f) means for pivoting said frame relative to said track member, and k (-g) a platform within said frame between the bar member and said vertical track member.

3. A combination davit and platform for boats comprising (a) a frame member,

(b) a plurality of track members for mounting on a vertical surface,

(c) said frame member located in a pivotal and slidable relationship to each of said track members,

((1) a bar member on the opposite side of said frame for attaching a boat thereto,

(e) means for moving said frame along said vertical track members,

(f) means for raising and lowering the bar member relative to said track members, and

(g) a platform within said frame between the bar member and said vertical track members.

4. A combination davit and platform for boats comprising (a) a frame member,

(b) a plurality of track members,

(c) said track members being in the form of a C with the open part of the C facing the surface to which they are to be attached,

(d) said frame member located in a pivotal and slidable relationship to each of said track members, (e) a bar member on the opposite side of said frame for attaching a boat thereto,

(f) a second bar member spaced inwardly therefrom and parallel to said first bar member, and

(g) a platform within said frame and spaced between the second bar member and the portion of the frame which extends through the track members.

5. A combination davit and platform for boats comprising (a) a frame member,

(b) a plurality of track members,

(c) said track members being in the form of a C with the open part of the C facing the surface to which they are to be attached,

(d) said frame member located in a pivotal and slidable relationship to each of said track members, (e) a bar member on the opposite side of said frame for attaching a boat thereto,

(f) a second bar member spaced inwardly therefrom and parallel to said first bar member,

(g) means for moving said frame along said vertical track members,

(h) means for raising and lowering the bar member relative to said track members, and

(i) a platform within said frame and spaced between the second bar member and the portion of the frame which extends through the track member.

6. A combination davit and platform for boats comprising (a) a frame comprised of at least three bar members,

('b) said bar members extending in the same horizontal plane,

(0) said bar members being substantially parallel to each other,

((1) a plurality of track members,

(e) a first of said bar members pivotally and slidably engaging said track members,

(f) said track members being C-shaped with the open part of the C facing away from said bar members,

(g) each of said bar members being joined at their respective ends, and

(h) a platform extending between said first bar member and the adjacent bar member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,703,893 3/1955 Woodrufi 9-36 3,143,9-91 8/1964 Anderson ll443.5 3,216,388 11/1965 Smith ll4--43.5

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED E. CORRIGAN, Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION DAVIT AND PLATFORM FOR BOATS COMPRISING (A) A FRAME MEMBER, (B) A VERTICAL TRACK MEMBER, (C) SAID FRAME MEMBER HELD IN A PIVOTAL AND SLIDABLE RELATIONSHIP BY SAID TRACK MEMBER, (D) A BAR MEMBER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FRAME FOR ATTACHING A BOAT, (E) A PLATFORM WITHIN SAID FRAME BETWEEN THE BAR MEMBER AND SAID VERTICAL TRACK MEMBER. 